Of all the noticeable, important changes Team USA made in its smashing of Italy, 100-63, in Manila, perhaps the most important was a conversation between the rest of the players and Anthony Edwards, the team’s leading scorer for this World Cup season.
Edwards followed up his 35-point game Sunday with three points on 1-of-6 shooting, but he added three assists and otherwise made sure the ball was moving so other players could touch it.
The difference, Mikal Bridges said, was enormous, and listening to him talk, Bridges made it sound like the change Edwards made in the Italy game enabled all the other positive changes that sprang out of such a lopsided win.
Let’s see if all of them can now repeat the behavior over the final two games of the FIBA World Cup.
“Ant could get 30 whatever he wants, like easily,” said Bridges, who benefited the most from Edwards’ generosity to the tune of 24 points. “We talked to him and tried to help him out just to find guys, and that’s what he did. And he’s probably the happiest dude in the locker room right now.
“So, you know, shout out to Ant for that and he knows how dominant he is. … I think we kind of fed off that, you know, once we saw Ant doing that and how happy he was, and everybody kind of had that joy as well.”
Full article: https://theathletic.com/4834485/2023/09/05/usa-basketball-fiba-world-cup-italy/?source=user_shared_article
by PCFUTPLAYER
4 Comments
Seem like Team USA is using Ant as the scapegoat. That’s probably ill-advised. The problem wasn’t Ant, it was the teams lack of size/rebounding. And Reeves/Hali getting dogged walked on defense.
Ants a leader. He’s always been more excited for his teammates than for himself. Being sure enough in who you are to listen to your teammates and make improvements game to game is a great trait to have for a young player. Good for you ant!
That’s great, but the offense wasn’t the problem vs Lithuania (but Ant should probably move the ball a bit more, he ball-stops too much both with the wolves and team USA)
Watch Bridges lay an egg against Germany next game and Ant has to save their ass again.